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This is a simple, solid step stool sized for a small child to reach the bathroom sink or toilet. It's about as basic as a useful build gets — two 8-foot 1x2 boards make the whole thing — but it's built to be genuinely sturdy, which matters when a kid is standing on it in a wet bathroom.
The whole design is a low frame with a slatted top. The strength comes from method rather than clever joinery: every joint is predrilled, countersunk, and screwed with glue. Predrilling 1x2 is not optional — the stock is narrow and splits easily if you drive a screw cold — and the countersink lets you fill over the screw head for a smooth top.
Build the frame first (side supports to front and back supports), then add the top slats. Attach the two outer slats flush with the frame edges (no overhang, so there's nothing to catch a toe on), then space the middle slats with a consistent 1/4" gap. Sand everything well — bare feet and small hands will be all over it — and finish with something water-tolerant since it lives in a bathroom; the source used a spray lacquer. Quick, cheap, and genuinely useful.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x2, 8 ftSlats, supports, and footers. | 2 each |
| Wood screws, 1-1/4 in | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 1 bottle |
| Finish (water-tolerant, e.g. spray lacquer) | 1 each |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Top slats1x2 | 5 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 17 1/2" |
| Front/back supports1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 16" |
| Side supports and footers1x2 | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 11" |
Buy 2 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Make the frame by attaching the 11" side supports to the 16" front and back supports. Predrill and countersink for every screw, and glue all joints. Predrilling isn't optional on 1x2 — narrow stock splits if you drive a screw cold.
Attach the first top slat to the frame with glue and countersunk screws. Line up the slat edges flush with the frame — no overhang, so there's nothing for a toe to catch.
Attach the last top slat the same way at the opposite edge, again flush with the frame.
Place the remaining top slats between the two you've fixed, with a consistent 1/4" space between each. Glue and countersink the screws.
Sand everything smooth, fill the countersunk screw holes, and apply a water-tolerant finish — a spray lacquer works well for a bathroom step.
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